Psychedelic Funk to find groove in Killarney

Killarney's August Festival will begin today with an all flat card and a competitive feature as the listed Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes has attracted a field of 11 runners.

Ger Lyons has been enjoying a fine season and looks to have found a good opportunity for PSYCHEDELIC FUNK to win again. When the three-year-old won at Naas last month, Lyons' delight was clear to be seen as he opened up a new avenue for the talented colt who was just struggling a little in better sprint company.

This is a step up in class again for Psychedelic Funk from his recent Naas victory but his future now looks to be over a mile and he can confirm that he still has plenty of winning to do over this sort of trip by claiming this valuable listed contest.

Donnacha O'Brien's outside chance of being champion jockey this season could hinge on meeting's like this fixture as while the 19-year-old may play down his chances - and he is the outsider in the race - today he will ride the likely odds-on shots in both the first and last races for his father, Aidan.

In the opening race KEW GARDENS is expected to score for the O'Briens. The juvenile started off in a Curragh maiden where he finished seventh and with the natural progression we have come so used to from such Ballydoyle types and without anything else leaping off the page full of promise, the son of Galileo should get the job done.

In the finale, ABYSSINIAN is another well bred son of Galileo who did get his head in front last time and fairly emphatically too at Leopardstown.

Abyssinian has been to the picturesque Kerry track before when finishing second on his penultimate start and looks capable of progressing again with the often disappointing Sea Swift looking like his biggest danger.

The Easy Clean Limited Handicap may only have seven runners but those at the top of the weights look set to dominate with Keith Clarke's Roscommon Oaks winner Jeremys Joy looking for another success.

However, Joseph O'Brien pitches Curragh maiden winner MR EVEREST into a handicap on just his third start and despite not troubling the judge at Bellewstown in an amateur race last time, an ease in the ground may just be a big factor for him and he'll get that in Killarney this evening to defy his inexperience and win for the second time.

ATLAS was a deserving winner at Leopardstown last week after knocking on the door a few times for Denis Hogan and running under a penalty the four-year-old can make it a profitable week for connections by claiming the Celtic Steps Handicap, while in the pitchsupplies.ie Maiden, the hooded ALIJUNOOD is given a tentative selection of winning at the fourth time of asking.

Dermot Weld's team have been showing a return to form of late and although Jim Bolger introduces newcomer Focus On Grass, a brother to the smart Theobald, the experience of Aljunood will hopefully give him the upper hand.